Khalid White, 30, appeared for a status conference at the Larimer County Justice Center, during which the case was set for another status conference April 23. At that point, the case will likely be set for a preliminary hearing, which is used to determine if enough evidence exists to go to trial.

Eighth Judicial District Judge Stephen Howard indicated he was willing to give the defense team another month to prepare, but he expects the case to move forward at that time.

White was booked into the Larimer County Jail on Jan. 17 and charged the following day with eight felonies in connection with the case: first-degree murder after deliberation, two counts of felony murder, sexual assault with a weapon resulting in serious bodily injury, robbery, tampering with a deceased human body, identity theft and motor vehicle theft.

In Colorado, a suspect can be charged with felony murder if a person dies while the suspect is in the process of committing certain felonies. In this case, the robbery and sexual assault charges would each meet the criteria for a count of felony murder.

Fort Collins police said they believe White killed Graves on Dec. 4 or in the early morning hours of Dec. 5. Graves was last seen at her home in the evening Dec. 4 and was later reported missing. A park ranger discovered her body in Lory State Park on Jan. 9, and the Larimer County Coroner's Office ruled her death a homicide by blunt force head injuries and manual strangulation.

Photos of Kimberlee Graves are illuminated by candles during a candlelight vigil near University Avenue on Friday, January 19, 2018. Graves' body was found January 9 in Lory State Park.(Photo11: Austin Humphreys/The Coloradoan)